Top Arab states diplomats gather in Beijing for ministerial meeting

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also the country’s State Councilor, on Monday met with his counterparts from Qatar, Oman, Comoros, Bahrain and Sudan as the diplomats gathered in Beijing for the eighth ministerial meeting of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.

China, Qatar announce mutual visa exemptions

During his meeting with Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affairs Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, the two diplomats signed an agreement on mutual visa exemptions.

"Qatar is an important member in the Arab world. We highly value and support the development of our cooperation. China appreciates Qatar’s contribution to our ties,” Wang said.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affairs Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi in Beijing, July 9, 2018. /MOFA Photo

China and Qatar are celebrating their 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Cooperation in the fields of energy, trade, and infrastructure have been carried out in recent years.

“Qatar and China have thirty years of diplomatic relations. In the past thirty years, bilateral ties have improved in many areas including the economy, politics and military. I hope that the two sides can further establish a better strategic partnership,” Muraikhi said.

The two countries have also begun collaborations in finance and investment. The trade volume between the two countries rose to 8.08 billion US dollars in 2017.

China, Oman pledge more cooperation under Belt and Road Initiative

Wang also met Oman's Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousuf bin Alawi on Monday in Beijing.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets Oman's Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousuf bin Alawi in Beijing, July 9, 2018. /MOFA Photo

China and Oman should continue supporting each other on issues involving their core interests and major concerns, accelerate joint construction of the Belt and Road, promote industrial capacity cooperation, and deepen financial cooperation of various forms, Wang said.

Alawi, who is in Beijing to attend the eighth ministerial meeting of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, said Oman adheres to the one-China principle and supports China's position on the South China Sea issue.

He said Oman highly appreciates and actively supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and hopes to enhance cooperation with China in finance, investment, and tourism, among other areas to continuously achieve pragmatic outcomes.

China, Comoros pledge to deepen ties

Wang also met visiting Comoros Foreign Affairs Minister Souef Mohamed El Amine.

Chinese Foreign Minister, also State Councilor, Wang Yi meets Comoros Foreign Affairs Minister Souef Mohamed El Amine in Beijing, July 9, 2018. /MOFA Photo

He called on the two sides to coordinate closely in international affairs and foster a paradigm of relations of equal treatment and win-win cooperation between big and small countries.

Saying China will attach more importance to the cooperation demands of small and medium-sized countries, Wang expressed China's willingness to support Comoros in its bid for sustainable self-development.

El Amine said his country maintains the one-China policy and supports China to achieve complete national reunification.

He thanked China for its long-term support and assistance in Comoros' development and expressed his hope to push forward bilateral cooperation in infrastructure construction and human resources development.

China, Bahrain ink MOU to promote Belt and Road Initiative

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also State Councilor, meets his Bahraini counterpart Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa in Beijing, July 10, 2018. /MOFA Photo

Wang and his Bahraini counterpart Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The two sides should continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning each others' core interests and promote pragmatic cooperation across the board under the Belt and Road framework, Wang said.

Shaikh Khalid said Bahrain highly applauds and supports the Belt and Road Initiative and stands ready to strengthen all-round cooperation with China and boost bilateral ties.

The two diplomats also signed a deal on visa exemptions for those holding diplomatic and service passports.

China supports South Sudan peace talk

Wang also met Sudan's State Minister for Investment Osama Faisal.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also State Councilor, meets Sudan's State Minister for Investment Osama Faisal in Beijing, July 10, 2018. /MOFA Photo

Wang said China always supports African people to solve African problems in their own way and that China will continue to contribute to the South Sudan peace talk.

Osama said the Sudanese government thanks China for its long-term support and assistance for Sudan in safeguarding national stability, promoting national unity and promoting economic development, and thanked China's contribution to resolving the regional issues.

He said he hopes China can continue to play a constructive role in resolving the South Sudan issue and the future revitalization of South Sudan.

China, Morocco to deepen cooperation under Belt and Road

Wang on Tuesday told his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita that China and Morocco need to deepen cooperation in trade and investment under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and expand exchanges in all fields.

"We should make a good preparation of the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in September and push forward the development of the China-Morocco strategic partnership," Wang said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China and Arab states agreed to establish a Sino-Arab future-oriented strategic partnership of comprehensive cooperation and common development.

Bourita voiced support for the decision, saying it points out the direction for the two ancient civilizations to deepen cooperation under new circumstances.

(Zhao Yunfei and Wang Peng also contributed to the story.)